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things that workedlight 160g twill weave weight glass cloth worked well15cm squares were the best, strips tended to shrink, bigger was too hard to drapethe carbon tape, actually this wasnst too great but you always need a bit of carbon

things that were oki used some csm in a few places (because i had resin left and thats all i had to hand) which was ok but doesnt give a good finish.

things to do next time differently add a pigment to the resin, its amazing how the surface shows up when you prime and it adds contrast.cut the cloth with pinking shears, if i had any.wear gloves when handling the chicken wire.

remember next time to coat any balsa with any left over resin as it goes rock hard.

been grouting the mountain side but its too cold in my garage to do any more glassing and the papier mache is still wet after days! spent time with the heat of my soldering iron to work a lot on the controller, just need to connect to the track droppers now.

Was thinking of adding some industry for the 66 to service, initial thoughts were of an aggregate yard and a small gas turbine power station (running on light fuel oil brought by tanker) but i'm open to suggestions. Of course grain could be grown on the plains and turned into something special with the mountain spring water...

Green bits on mountain side are just indication for future scenic grassing, note to all, Wickes conifer green paint is actually mint!

Gauge looks tight through the blasted cutting but is ok with a Mk3, track condition looks worse in the photos and i think it will be good when ballasted.

Just visible is a corrugated card contoured extension on the far end of the cutting, that seemed to work well and will be grout covered, i will do more of that for lowland relief, some of it grassy banks so its not all rock!

My home assembled controller is built into the top of the board for now, probably frowned up on I guess, but it was one of those things I hadn't considered a location for, so there it is for now. I haven't tested it yet and only about 1/3 the track is connected to it - more soldering and there are about a million wires now!

In other news the German DMU has been sidelined for major repairs, it seems my views on mint differ from some peoples... I have already had to clean the wheels and contacts and reposition the contacts on the correct side of the wheels but it still runs much much worse than my other locos. I will have to take it apart and rebuild. I'm annoyed at that but the rebuild should be interesting. A class 158 in regional railways livery has been procured by the AMR to replace it while it is out of service and provide summer peak time cover.

It's only a matter of making it happen, Marcus. I did - mind you I was a lot younger and carefree. It's not all sugar and roses here either - we have our problems, don't you worry.

Pete: Great scenery! Can't wait to see the finished product!

George

people do think the grass is always greener over the fence, I just don't like where the UK is heading. Layouts looking good, I find after a busy day, spending a couple of hours on the layout so relaxing.

The AMR is putting the 66 to work delivering ballast for the new lines. In addition a crew of brickies has built the wall for the loco cave and laid some concrete staging outside. Ballasting is hard work in the cold as the binder they are trialling doesnt set! The work crew with brushes to clean the rails and sleepers is now having some beer and work will recommence at the weekend.